Range receptacle



March 2, 1937. J L, FRANK 2,072,585

RANGE RECEPTACLE Filed June 17, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1h 72b 51 an :0

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

March 2, 1937. J FRANK 2,072,585

RANGE RECEPTACLE Filed June 17, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 65 F I 1 $1 w o /A/ w jx-QZMQ QQJ m ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This application relates to electrical receptacles and discloses a receptacle which is an improvementover the one shown in the patent to Harrison J. L. Frank, 1,995,386, of March 26, 1935,

5 class 247-15.

The receptacle here shown diflers from the one disclosed in the patent flrstly, in the details 01' construction of the connectors for the live conductors; and secondly, in the provision of parts 10 by means of which an auxiliary plug outlet may be provided at the top of the receptacle, at the option of the installer. These parts are so designed that they may be added to a standard single outlet receptacle, such as that of the patent,

15 whereby that receptacle may be converted into a duplex outlet receptacle having a main outlet and an auxiliary outlet; and these parts may be added either in the establishment of manufacture of the single outlet receptacle, or at the place of go installation of the receptacle, by an installing electrician, merely with the aid of hand tools or the like.

For an understanding of the receptacle here shown reference should be had to the accompany- :5 ing drawings. In the drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are small scale front and side elevational views of the receptacle, with a portion of cable attached;

Figs. 3 and 4 are full scale similar views, bu

30 with the covers cut away or in section;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view 01' the parts of the auxiliary outlet, per se.

Figs. 6-7, 8-9, and 10-11, in pairs, show various modes of physically and electrically associ- 35 ating the conducting straps oi the auxiliary outlet with those of the main outlet of the receptacle;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the cover of the receptacle.

Fig. 13 is a section on line l3-l3, Fig. 12;

40 Fig. 14 shows an alternative construction of cover;

Figs. 15-17, 18-19, 20-22, and 23 show diflerent modes of properly positioning the contacts of the auxiliary outlet in the receptacle.

45 Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the receptacle generally comprises an L-shaped metal bracket l having a base II and a back l2, the latter being provided with clear holes i4 through which may be passed screws for mount- 50 ing the bracket against a surface, probably a wall of a room, at or near a base board. Disposed against the back part of the bracket and held thereon by screws l tapping into tapped holes of the bracket back I2 is a contact and connection 56 body I8 01 molded insulation formed with a base,

and with walls providing forwardly and downwardly opening sockets ll, in each of which is secured a double jaw contact l8.

The contacts are mounted on conductor straps l9 provided with cups 20 forming solderless con- 5 nectors oi the type shown in application Serial No. 12,756, filed March 25, 1935, at IO-I3. The cups 29 have cross holes 2| and are tapped to receive binding screws 22 having screw driver slots 23, the screws operating to anchor and clamp bared terminal strands 24 of conductors 25 of a line cable 26 and connect these terminals to the contacts 18 through the straps l9.

Covering the bracket entirely and thus concealing all of the interior of the receptacle is a scoop shapedcover 40 having an open back which receives the back [2 of the bracket and an open base which receives the base ll of the bracket to cooperate therewith and thus form a complete closure for the receptacle. A screw 43 passes through the cover and also through the contact and connection body It to hold the cover and the connection body in place, the screws threading into a tapped hole in the back l2 of the bracket.

The cover sides and top are formed to extend to the surface against which the receptacle is mounted and the cover forms a complete seal and closure for the receptacle which is unbroken, be-

cause the cover walls extend to the surfaces.

Except for the nature of the connector parts 20-23 for the conductor terminals 24, the parts as heretofore described are similar to those of Patent No. 1,995,386 and, as can readily be observed, provide a main outlet for plug prongs plugged into the contacts it through the holes or slots 45 in the front of the cover.

For the purpose of providing an auxiliary outlet for a second'plug, like the one shown at 46, Fig. 4, an outlet whose contacts will be accessible from the top of the receptacle, there may be provided an assembly of the character of Fig. 5, the same comprising an insulation plate of V contour upon which are mounted contacts 5i formed upon conductor straps 52 having terminals 53 pro- 45 vided with screws 54, and the top of the cover may be provided with knockouts 55, (Fig. 13), or with holes 56 (Fig. 14). The assembly 01 Fig. 6, when it is to be used, may be associated with the receptacle by placing the plate 50 upon 50 the top of the body I5, the V contour of the plate cooperating with the V contour of the top of the body to position the plate, and screws 51 may be threaded into tapped holes previously formed, as standard formation, in the, top of the recep- 55 tacle body. Thereafter, terminal screws 54 on the terminals 53 of the straps 52 may be threaded into tapped holes previously formed, as standard formation, in the conducting straps l9 the receptacle for physically and electrically interconnecting the two pairs of conducting straps,

whereupon contacts 5| will be supplied by conductors 25 and will be accessible through the removed knockouts 55 or the holes 56 at the top of the cover.

The association of the auxiliary outlet parts 50-54, 56, with a standard receptacle such as the one of Patent No. 1,995,386 as modified by the provision of knockouts or holes in the cover, and tapped holes in the body for screws 55, and tapped holes in straps I9 for screws 53, may be effected either in the establishment of manufacture or at the place of installation, as can readily be observed.

Other modes of associating the terminals 53 of straps 52 with the conductor terminals 24 may be contemplated and several such other methods are shown in Figs. 'l8, 9--10, and 11-12. Figs. 6-7 show a terminal 52 disposed between a strap l5 and a cup 20 riveted thereto; Figs. 8-9 show a terminal 52 formed with a curved part 52a formed to seat in the cross holes 2| of a. cup 20 in which the bared terminal 24 of a conductor 25 is clamped by screw 22, this screw clamping terminals 24 and 52a together and in place; and Figs. 10--11 show a terminal 52 formed with a fork 52b straddling an extension of screw 22 whereby it may be clamped against cup 20 by a nut 22a.

Several modes of properly positioning the contacts 5| in place are contemplated and shown in Figs. 15-23, as alternates to the mode shown in Figs. 3-5, where screws 51 are used.

In Figs. 151'? the body I6 is formed, in the valley of its top surface, with knobs 60 which 'restrain sidewise movement of the contacts 5|;

lifting of the contacts 5| is restrained by the proximity of these to the interior surface or the top of cover 40.

In Figs. 18-19 the cover 40 is formed with pockets 6| in its top, around the knockouts 55 or the holes 56, for receiving the contacts 5|.

In Figs. 2022 the cover 40 is formed with ribs 52 defining between them a groove 63 which seats the contacts 5|.'

In Fig. 23 the body is formed with ribs 64 which provide grooves receiving the edges of the plate upon which are mounted the contacts 5|.

I claim:

A receptacle comprising a box formed of an L-shaped member having a base and a back, and a scoop-shaped cover having a front, a top, and sides, and open at the back and base, these open areas being closed by the member, the member having on its back a contact and connection body at a substantial distance above the member base to leave the lower part of the box clear so as to facilitate insertion of a conductor terminal into the box through a lower part of the member, plug prong receiving contacts on the body opening towards the front of the box, a unit so constructed as to be associatable with or removable from the body as a unit and comprising a mounting plate for the unit dimensioned complementary to the top of the body to fit and seat on the top thereof properly, the plate being seated on the top of the body, plug prong receiving contacts on and secured to the plate and projecting therefrom towards and opening towards the top of the box, plug prongentrance holes in the front of the cover, and plug prong entrance holes in the top of the cover, these holes being aligned with the corresponding contacts of the body. and conductor terminal binding means on the body for receiving upwardly projecting terminals of conductors inserted into the box through the lower part of the same, the plate contacts. having portions secured and connected to the connecting means of the body contacts for securing the unit on the body and for electrically connecting the unit contacts to the body contacts.

HARRISON J. L. FRANK. 

